The new Air Force One will be jumbo jets left over from bankrupt Russian airline

On Friday, the US Air Force confirmed that it has purchased two Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental commercial airliners that will be converted over to serve as the nation’s next generation presidential transports.

The decision to purchase ready-made commercial airliners instead of custom-built aircraft is part of President Trump’s plan to keep the costs of the Presidential Airlift Recapitalization program under control.

“This award is a significant step toward ensuring an overall affordable program,” Principal deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, Darlene Costello, said in a statement. “As we move forward, we will continue to seek and implement cost savings opportunities.”

The USAF expects to begin the conversion process in 2019 with the planes set to enter service in 2024 — at which point the current pair of Boeing 747-200-based VC-25A will be 34 years old.

(The VC-25A and other presidential aircraft only become Air Force One when the President steps on board.)

“Purchasing these aircraft is a huge step toward replacing the ageing VC-25As,” executive officer, Maj. Gen. Duke Richardson, said in a statement. “This award keeps us on track to modify and test the aircraft to become presidential mission-ready by 2024.”

According to the USAF, modifications will include a mission communications system, electrical power upgrades, a medical facility, an executive interior, and a self-defence system.

Boeing confirmed to Business Insider that the two brand-new jumbo jets were abandoned after Russia’s Transaero airline went bust in 2015. At the time, Boeing had already built two of the four 747s Transaero had on order. So instead of delivering the planes, Boeing completed flight testing and sent them to the California desert where they have been waiting for a new buyer. Now, the planes are now destined to take on the call sign, Air Force One.

The USAF declined to disclose the costs of the aircraft. However, the Air Force is believed to have received a significant discount over the 747-8I’s list price of $US386.8 million.

Air Force One is instantly recognisable — both as the aeroplane of the President of the United States and as a flying symbol of American military and economic might. With its hand-polished blue, white, and silver livery, it boldly proclaims the arrival of the most powerful man in the world.

What many people don’t know is that there isn’t one, but two nearly identical Boeing jets that serve as the official aircraft of the president. Normally, the planes are referred to by their tail numbers — 28000 and 29000 — but when the Commander and Chief steps on board, they take on the call sign “Air Force One.” In fact, presidential aeroplanes didn’t begin using the Air Force One designation until 1959.

The president’s pair of Boeing VC-25A jets are operated by the Presidential Airlift Group out of Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. While the current Boeing 747-based planes have been in service for more than two decades, they’re simply the latest in a long-line of flying White Houses.

Here’s a look back at the history America’s presidential aeroplanes.

Today, presidential air travel is a massive, highly coordinated operation. However, this wasn't always the case. It all started with Theodore Roosevelt -- a true American pioneer. The 26th president was the first to fly in an aeroplane. More than a year after leaving office, he flew in a Wright Flyer on October 10, 1910.

It wasn't until 1933 that the government actually acquired an aircraft specifically for presidential travel. That year, a Douglas Dolphin amphibious plane -- similar to the one pictured below -- was specially outfitted for President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Unfortunately, FDR never flew in the Dolphin.

Instead, the first official presidential flight took place on January 14, 1943 when FDR crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a Boeing 314 Clipper -- similar to the one pictured below -- on a trip to Casablanca, Morocco.

The first aircraft to be custom built for presidential use was a Douglas VC-54C nicknamed 'Sacred Cow.' The Sacred Cow famously transported Roosevelt to the Yalta Conference.

On July 4, 1947, Truman replaced the Sacred Cow with a new aircraft -- a Douglas VC-118. The new plane was christened 'Independence' after the 33rd president's hometown in Missouri. On August 31 of that year, it made its first official presidential trip to a conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

US Air Force/Ken LaRock

The VC-118 is a civilian Douglas DC-6 -- the 26th to roll off the production line -- that was modified on orders from the Air Force for presidential duty. The Independence has room for 24 seated passengers or 12 sleeper berths.

US Air Force/Ken LaRock

It also features dedicated meeting space for the president and...

US Air Force/Ken LaRock

... A full kitchen. The aircraft served in the presidential fleet until 1953.

US Air Force/Ken LaRock

That year, a Lockheed Constellation -- christened 'Columbine II' after the state flower of Colorado -- took over the presidential flying duties. In 1953, an air traffic controller confused the aeroplane carrying President Eisenhower with an Eastern Airlines flight using a similar call sign. The incident helped bring about the use of the designation 'Air Force One.'

In November of 1954, the US Air Force took delivery of a new personal aircraft for President Eisenhower -- a heavily modified Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation called the VC-121E. In fact, it was the only VC-121E ever built. Christened the 'Columbine III', the Lockheed plane served the president until 1961.

That's because on October 10, 1962, the US Air Force and President John F. Kennedy took delivery a new Boeing 707-320B-based VC-137C known as Special Air Mission or SAM 26000.

Even though President Eisenhower had been known to use Air Force Boeing VC-137A jets during his time in office, SAM 26000 was first purpose-built presidential jet transport.

US Air Force

Decked out in blue, white, and silver with the words 'United States of America' emblazoned on its side, SAM 26000's livery became the most iconic in aviation history. The aeroplane's look is the brainchild of legendary industrial designer Raymond Loewy. Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy is also said to have contributed to the stunning design.

Unfortunately, President Kennedy didn't get to use SAM 26000 for very long. The 35th President of the United States was assassinated in Dallas on November 22, 1963. Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn-in as the 36th commander-in-chief aboard the SAM 26000.

US Air Force

The aircraft was also tasked with transporting President Kennedy's body back to Washington. Here, the president's coffin is unloaded at Andrews Air Force Base under the guidance of the First Lady.

US Air Force

Post-Kennedy, SAM 26000 went on to serve as the primary presidential aircraft for the Johnson.